Can you lie about the age of your child?

[swincha]

Here we go again with everyone that is going to be holier than thou. Do you lie to the officer that pulls you over for speeding or going through the red light? Do you ever stretch the truth a little to fit your needs? Do you show up for work a little late but get paid for the whole time anyway-since noone noticed? Have you ever taken a sick day, but really weren't physically sick? Ever drink alcohol before the age of 21? Noone is that perfect and those are just a few examples. Who cares who says what age their child is. I don't think it is just about price- it is more of an issue of what is the child actually eating. I have no problem with my child staying 9 a bit longer or any other if they need to. Paying $25 for a 10 year old to eat a hotdog or hamburger is ridiculous. Now if they eat the actual adult buffet and are a good eater then I would feel guilty. But I am not going to judge others- it is their business. Just go and have fun with your(in general) own family. Don't waste time worrying about who is getting away with something.

your opinion is just another example of the dishonesty in the world. my son watches other coworkers take what they want from the snack bar up to even 10 dollars worth or food. he sees it as stealing. you can live through life without lying but some people consider it stretching the truth. the question here is how if affects the poster. either don't go with them or ignore it and explain it to your child how you want to if questions are asked. i don't see a problem with ordering off a childs menu if its not a buffet and you say you are ordering off of it because the child cannot eat adult portions and don't lie about the age of the child

 

[swincha]

You know everyone has to do what they are comfortable with. If this person is comfortable lying to say some money, that is her problem. I am not going to condemn them or police them.

I do have a problem with some that think no one exists that is honest. I do none of the things you listed above and it offends me that some think everyone cheats on something. Why is it so hard to believe that there are some very honest people in the world. I was raised in a very strong Christian based family and we did not lie, steal, or cheat and we still don't. You stated you are not going to judge others, but you judge those that are honest to be lying.

We may be few and far between, but some of us exist and I think there are probably more here at DIS than you would think.

i agree with you here and i raise my children this way also. my 16 yr old son comes home and talks about the rampant cheating at school, people taking food at work and not paying for it. he sees it as stealing. my teens will give money to people who drop it. also we do correct stores when they make an error in our favor they store is always surprised. i do have people pull me aside and praise my children as hard workers and that they are considerate and honest. it does shine through.

 

[married@wdw]

I'm confused. I was just looking at new child's menus (most dated 5/05 and 6/05) on All Ears and most of them say for those 11 and under. Is this wrong? Did they JUST change something that I'm not aware of?

 

[beattyfamily]

Here we go again with everyone that is going to be holier than thou. Do you lie to the officer that pulls you over for speeding or going through the red light? Do you ever stretch the truth a little to fit your needs? Do you show up for work a little late but get paid for the whole time anyway-since noone noticed? Have you ever taken a sick day, but really weren't physically sick? Ever drink alcohol before the age of 21? Noone is that perfect and those are just a few examples. Who cares who says what age their child is. I don't think it is just about price- it is more of an issue of what is the child actually eating. I have no problem with my child staying 9 a bit longer or any other if they need to. Paying $25 for a 10 year old to eat a hotdog or hamburger is ridiculous. Now if they eat the actual adult buffet and are a good eater then I would feel guilty. But I am not going to judge others- it is their business. Just go and have fun with your(in general) own family. Don't waste time worrying about who is getting away with something.

And here we go again with calling those who are honest and do the right thing names. It goes both ways.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I'm confused. I was just looking at new child's menus (most dated 5/05 and 6/05) on All Ears and most of them say for those 11 and under. Is this wrong? Did they JUST change something that I'm not aware of?

They just changed it to age 9 - couple of days ago announced the change.

 

[DebbieB]

I've never had a problem ordering a kids meal for my 13 DS at any restaurant. I don't think they can tell you no even if you're 50 years old and want to order off the kids menu....

I think the concern is more with the buffets, where you pay by age not by menu.

I'm confused. I was just looking at new child's menus (most dated 5/05 and 6/05) on All Ears and most of them say for those 11 and under. Is this wrong? Did they JUST change something that I'm not aware of?

I believe it starts July 1.

 

[happygirl]

No I wouldn't lie, but what others do I can't be responsible for

 

[BBGirl]

Can you lie about your child's age? Yes
Do I think it's right? No
Will I ask if my child can order off the childern's menu at sitdown places? Yes
Do I believe this is wrong? No
Would I tell on someone who I KNOW is lying? No
It's not my business it's theirs. If this is the lesson they want to teach their childern that's their choice. Nothing anyone says on this board or anywhere else is going to change someone's mind if they are set on lying or telling the truth. They will do so and justify it as they see fit. What is right for me is my choice--What is right for other's is their choice. Does it make me mad-sometimes. I would NOT travel with them. I would tell them that this is a moral issue for you and something you can not see justifing to your childern therefore you feel uncomfortable traveling with them. It's better for them to mad at you at home then to ruin your vacation over someelses lack of morals that your just can't control. If you have to travel with them I would explain to your childern first before you get there that you have no control over other people's actions. In some ways it's a good lesson for your childern to see that not everyone is honest. A lesson I would rather not teach to my childern in this way but I always look for the silver in the clouds. Take a breath and repete atfer me. "The only person who's actions that I have control over are my own. I can not control someones actions only my reactions to their actions" There are always going to be dishonest people in this world if you let them ruin your good time then you are really just being foolish. I believe they will answer to a higher authority. Not my place to judge. I don't want anyone judging my actions therefore, I don't judge others.
Tina

 

[Lewisc]

I would think some of the people who would lie for dining already lie to get the lower price for park tickets.

Do you think any more people lie now than with the old age? Some poeple who have children that are just over the age limit are going to lie.

 

[missypie]

I will say that if you're going to lie, please coach your child in advance. I was behind a British family checking in for the Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose. The hostess asked the mom how old her kids were. She answered that they were 7 and 11. The oldest piped up and said, "But Mummy, I'm 12." Mummy turned to him and said, "You silly thing. You know that you don't turn 12 until July."

The hostess had to listen to all of this as if she believed it. I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact with the hostess, but I imagine that she was rolling her eyes!

 

[FamilyGuy]

Personally, I think it is a matter of choice for the family if they wish to state their children's ages less than what the actualy ages are. I did this many years ago when taking the kids to movies or for admissions at other places. We chose not to go to Disney back then (read: couldn't really afford it).

I have come to a larger, more mature point of view now and avoid, is at all possible, lying about ages of kids or anything else for that matter. Yes, I am the guy who will go back in the store to pay for something that was not paid for, but that does not make me better or worse than the next guy. I cannot judge others.

I would not be critical of anyone who chose to save a couple of bucks by saying kids are younger than they actually are. God Bless them, it's their choice!

It is my uderstanding that Disney employees are not allowed to question (within reason) ages stated by parents.... for obvious reason, some parents will choose to state their ages as younger than they actually are.

I know of a family who states to their Auto insurance company that their teenage drivers are the primary driver of their respective automobiles. In their mind, it would be deceitful and fraudulent to tell the insurance agent that the vehicles will only be used "occasionally by their children." This costs them literally THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL DOLLARS of insurance premium! If they simple stated occasional use by the kids (which may be a stretch) they would save a substantial amount of insurance premium. Honestly, I don't think I could pay that much extra!

I actually remember when I was younger the agent suggesting to our family to keep me on as occasional use driver to keep the premium reasonable....

So, in a few years when my daughter is old enough to drive and it's entirely possible that I may have her on as only an occasional driver (after discussing it with my insurance agent), I hope that others will not judge me.... just as I do not judge others....

 

[Dutchmom23]

I am sure you're going later, I didn't see any dates.

 

[mark&sue]

Surely you are not being dishonest in this instance for sit down meals because you get what you pay for. The kids meals are much smaller compared to adult meals. They are also bland with not much choice.

We recently came back from a trip with 6 children of various ages and the servers automatically gave us 6 kids menus. I didn't think it was cheating we also paid for 6 adult meals which were more than double the size but not necessarily double the price so it was not stealing.

I guess buffets are different and would suggest paying for the difference but the other meals are definately not worth any more IMHO.



Susan

 

[tamu91]

I personally don't care what other people are doing or getting away with. Do the right thing and don't compromise your integrity IMO. Don't let your friend's action dictate your own.

 

[PatsGirl]

I agree with Tamu91 -- don't compromise your integrity. We all have to look ourselves in the mirror

While it sounds like the OP might be less than enthusiastic about sharing her vacation with this family, it sounds inevitable for whatever reason. I would use this opportunity to teach my kids a "life lesson" -- this particular incident can lead to a great many conversations helping them determine what is right or wrong and the ages of the kids are fantastic for it.

"Life is just one big learning curve..."

Brenda

 

[casey49781]

yes i would lie because 25.00 is way out of line for a 10 yr old,,that is totally crazy,,,and disney is already way too expensive,,even though i love the place ,,,i dont think little white lies that dont hurt anyone is a big deal ,since you are already spending a ton there for everything else anyway,,,,,i work in the restaurant business and that price is crazy,,,

 

[SleepingUgly]

I will say that if you're going to lie, please coach your child in advance. I was behind a British family checking in for the Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose. The hostess asked the mom how old her kids were. She answered that they were 7 and 11. The oldest piped up and said, "But Mummy, I'm 12." Mummy turned to him and said, "You silly thing. You know that you don't turn 12 until July."

The hostess had to listen to all of this as if she believed it. I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact with the hostess, but I imagine that she was rolling her eyes!

Actually, this does happen. My 5-year-old does not turn 6 until later this month, but she's already telling people that she's 6, since all we've been talking about these past few weeks is her upcoming party and how she's going to turn 6. Some clerk at Target the other day asked her how old she was and she automatically replied, "Six." In her mind, she's already six, I guess.

As for lying about a child's age -- I'm sure Disney has had its share of 12-year-old parents these past years lying about their child's age. I suspect this change in the rules will even itself out since the 12-year-old parents won't have to worry about anything anymore; the pressure has all been passed down to the parents of 10-year-old kids.

Linda

 

[tazleiten12]

I'm the original poster. I'm not judging anyone, or going to "tell" on them. I just didn't like what they are going to do. Lucky we are staying at 2 different resorts. We only have 2 meals planned with them, and i think i can get it down to 1! I really didn't care for the comment to mind my own business, if they want me to eat with them, it is my business. I don't care to have my children see them lie. Also if they got caught in the lie, i would be so embarrassed. My kids always tell their age, especially my son who announce's he is 7 1/2, and don't leave off that 1/2 (He finally just turned 8), and for some reason he feels the need to announce my age too, no matter how many times i tell him they don't need to know!
As for the new age limits, i hope they still let us order off the kids menu, as there is a few places my son wouldnt eat anything off the adult menu. I may have to change a few of the buffets as $26.99 for Chef Mickey Dinner, and $24.99 for Liberty Tree seem like way to much $!

 

[lovethattink]

All I know, is that I will not pay $20 for my son to eat only Mac and Cheese. He is a very fussy eater. And pizza and mac and cheese are his staple at WDW buffets. We will just avoid the buffets. We'll eat at Golden Corrale or other off site buffets; and stick to counter service at the parks.

 

[BANNISTER]

If you are on the meal plan will it really make a difference if your 10 year old orders a kid's meal or an adult meal since all the credits are pooled together?